NetPro has just released Version 2.2 of its Mission Control product for Microsoft’s Identity Lifecycle Management service. ILM is the successor to the metadirectory system originally called Via, which Microsoft inherited through its purchase of Zoomit Technologies late in the last century. Microsoft first shipped it as Microsoft Metadirectory Services (MMS) and later rechristened it as Microsoft Identity Information Server (MIIS).

<aside> What is it about directory names? Look at Sun, which acquired Netscape’s directory server, renaming it iPlanet, later changing the name to Sun ONE directory server before (I think) settling on Sun Java System Directory Server! </aside>

ILM combines the original metadirectory system with certificate and password management, and user provisioning – quite a large piece of the identity business to bite off! It is a complex and complicated system which – if properly maintained – can be a real benefit to your organization. But monitoring, administering and maintaining it can also be an onerous task.

Mission Control was originally introduced as a management package for MIIS. This new version is the first to be fully compatible with the expanded services of ILM Version 1 and enables you to conduct 24/7 health monitoring, configuration and meta-verse change auditing, as well as the ability to backup and restore on the ILM platform.

Also included is a new business intelligence module providing trending views and details on key ILM data in order to improve organizational decision-making, management reporting and overall ILM performance. You can examine and dissect the interrelationships of ILM data for insight on past, current and potential future trends, including the impact of introducing new identity systems to ILM, changes to activity type over time, and capacity planning. Mission Control 2.2 features 10 new built-in reports including Management Agent Activity Trend, Management Agent Changes, and Meta-Verse Audit and Performance Statistics.

More details are on the Web site where you can also request a free evaluation of the product. If you’re using ILM, you need Mission Control.

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